Bianca Knight Waiting For Shoe To Drop

The University of Texas sprint sensation Bianca Knight has recently signed with agent Mark Wetmore of Boston-based Global Athletics, Inc. Global Athletics also represents pro athletes such as Tyson Gay, Dee Dee Trotter, Jenn Stuczynski, and Liu Xiang.

Pro runners typically earn the bulk of their income on shoe contracts. The track world is waiting to hear the winner of the sneaker battle to woo the services of Bianca Knight. Word is that Nike and Adidas are duking it out to win over the women who blazed the second fastest American time ever in winning the NCAA crown in 200-meters.

If it’s any indication of the market, in 2003 Allyson Felix signed a signed a six-year, six-figure endorsement contract with Adidas just out of high school. Bianca’s legs will make her mad money.

Jay Hicks

Carolina Kluft Won’t Do Hepthalon

Swedish sensation Carolina Klüft has made the decision to not defend her Olympic heptathlon title in Beijing, stating that she was no longer motivated to train for and compete in heptathlons. Kluft will instead compete in the long and triple jumps.

Explaining her to local Swedish newspaper the Klüft said: “I’ve done the Heptathlon for a number of years. I really want to try something new. I want to focus on one or two other events. I want to feel fit in my body and not be exhausted week in and week out.”

Little known is known about Klüft in the U.S., but she is widely considered by many experts to be one of the world’s greatest all-around female athletes. The heptathlon event is a grueling two day event comprised of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200-meters on the first day. The long jump, javelin, and 800-meters are held the second day.

The 25-year-old, has won every major multi-events title since winning the world championship gold medal in 2003. Overall she has won three world championship golds and gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The Klüft is the European record holder in the heptathlon with a personal best of 7,032 points. This score ranks second behind former American champion Jackie Joyner Kersee.

The absence of Carolina opens the door for a showdown in Beijing to win the heptathlon gold. The top candidates to emerge in Klüft absence are Britain’s Kelly Sotherton and Jessica Ennis. They are both genuine gold-medal contenders in their own right.

Sotherton took the bronze medal behind Klüft in Athens in 2004 and again at last year’s world championships in Osaka. Ennis improved on her personal record by 300 points in finishing fourth at the ‘07 world outdoor championships. This shake up increases the chances that the heptathlon will be a hotly contested competition in Beijing.

100-Meter Debate May Be Settled Soon!

Since last summer fans and pundits alike have been debating who will prevail in a 100-meter show down between reigning 100 and 200-meter world champion Tyson Gay of the U.S. and current world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica.

What’s fueling the debate is that Gay beat Powell head-to-head in the 100-meter finals at the 2007 world championships last summer in Osaka. It was clear to most fans that Powell tensed up and panicked in the final 40 meters, finishing third behind Tyson Gay and Derrick Adtkins of the Bahamas.

Despite blazing times, Powell has struggled at major competitions, missing a medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The 2007 world championship race again called into question his ability to win the big races. Then one month later, Asafa went to Rieto, Italty in a meet that didn’t matter much and broke his own world record in 9.74.

Hopefully, the speculating will end soon. Talks are currently under way between the sprinters’ agents and meet directors to solidify at least one, or possibly two, clashes between the track giants. The sprinters are likely to meet after the Olympic Trials and before the Olympic games, which leaves them meeting in July in Stockholm, London, or Monaco.

The debate, however, will not end until after Powell and Gay race at the 100-meter finals in Beijing.  This star studded rivalry is good for track and field.

Jay Hicks

Texas Sprinter Bianca Knight Goes Pro

Trackshark.com is reporting that Bianca Knight turned professional, joining a growing number of track athletes leaving the college ranks early. She will forgo her remaining eligibility in collegiate track and field.

The world of elite track and field was introduced to Bianca Knight last Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championship meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The freshman from the University of Texas broke the NCAA meet record at 200-meters in a stunning time of 22.40. The second fastest time ever by an American runner puts Bianca on the level of the world’s elite sprinter.

If Bianca can deliver similar times at the professional level, she’ll be competitive among the world’s best sprinters. To put her indoor time of 22.40 into proper context, just take a look at the results from the outdoor 200-meter finals at the 2007 World Championships: Allyson Felix won in 21.82, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell took second in 22.34, followed by Susanthika Jayasinghe in 22.63. Runners typically put up much faster times outdoors.

Given the typically short career span of the average professional sprinter, I think Knight is wise to turn pro if she competes with the world’s best at this age.

Good luck Bianca!

11 Greatest Olympic Track Performances in the Last 100 years

• Jesse Owens: Non-verbal rebellion, inspired by hatred.

The revolution was televised. The black-and-white footage of Jesse Owens defeating Hitler’s Aryan nation still brings a chill. In front of packed crowds, he showed the world Hitler’s theory was a crock of crap. Jesse achieved international fame in winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Games in the 100, 200, long jump and 4 x 100 meter relay.

• Bob Hayes: No one faster than the speeding bullet.

By the summer of 1964, Bob “The Bullet” Hayes was dubbed the original “World’s Fastest Human” at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. The U.S. team was in fifth place when Hayes got the baton in this famous 4 x 100 meter relay — he couldn’t even reach out and touch them.

In perhaps the most memorable 100-meters in track history, he blew away the competition and turned a nine-meter deficit into a two-meter victory. The winning time of 39.0 seconds was a world record, and Hayes’ leg was timed unofficially in 8.6 seconds, still the fastest ever. That’s not running, that’s space travel.



• Bob Beamon: The leap heard around the world.

Life is short, but great performances last forever. Just after Beamon barely made the 1968 Olympic squad, he unleashed the most fearsome long jump ever, featuring the most perfect combination of running and jumping. Beamon surprised even himself, collapsing when hearing he soared 29 feet, 2 ½ inches. He shattered the original mark by almost 22 inches. That’s as close as man has ever come to human flight. Bob’s record stood 23 years.

• Dave Wottle: It’s never too late to be great.

Once upon a time Ethiopian and Kenyan runners dominated the middle distances. Against this backdrop at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 24-year-old American runner Dave Wottle was in last place in the 800-meter finals. Then the tension set in: starting at 500 meters, Wottle starting picking off runners one at a time. Coming down the final stretch, he hit the gas and won the 800-meters by .03 at the finish line. To this day, Wottle remains the only American to win at 800-meters since Munich.

• Carl Lewis: The misunderstood track genius does it like no other.

Although an often polarizing figure in the sport, Carl Lewis was a magnificent, daring sprinter. He was a flawless runner and jumper with a keen ability under pressure. Carl Lewis pounced on every step of the 100-meters, 200-meters, and long jump, 4 x 100-meter relay to win every battle in which he competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The elaborately executed performances became an Olympic memory reminiscent of Jesse Owen’s four gold medal feat in 1936.



• Michael Johnson: Track’s leading man.

Between 1992 and 1996, Michael Johnson was track’s most reliable mindblower: winning 58 straight races over eight years. By 1996, the stage had been set at the Atlanta Olympic games, as some of the greatest 200-meter runners ever gathered for the event’s finals.

The gun went off, and MJ stumbled the fourth step. He then covered the first 100 meters faster than any human ever, even out running the NBC track side camera. He crossed the line, and it was immediately evident he was track’s undisputed champ having offered further evidence of his mastery.

• Jackie Joyner-Kersee: From Nowhere to Somewhere.

It is a gritty road to the top, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee couldn’t compete in a more demanding event than her signature heptathlon: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m. It’s a definitive test of quickness, strength, and heart.

Her 1988 Olympic appearance produced the still-standing world record of 7,291 points. Not enough to let that victory stand alone, JJK showed up five days later to grab the gold again – this time in long jump, gliding to 24 feet, 3 ½ inches. JJK had the audacity to stake a claim at being the greatest female athlete ever—and then pulled it off.

• Sebastian Coe: Britain’s Iron Man delivers.

In 1983, Sebastian Coe had recently undergone lymph node surgery – a situation that his detractors said would sideline him for that year’s World Championships. But the following year, he was determined to win back-to-back Olympic 1500-meter titles.

It wouldn’t come easy – he was facing challengers Steve Ovett and Steve Cram, who was considered the odd’s-on favorite for the gold at the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angles. Coe shocked the critics when he ran a perfect race, pulling away from Cram and the rest of the field in the final straightaway to win by six meters. His determination, style, and pace influenced a generation of runners.



• Flo Jo: Brilliant at the highest speeds.

This track queen is an icon on two counts: she gave the first cross-over performance by a female track athlete and gave one of the most mesmerizing performances in recent history. The 1988 Seoul Olympic Games were Flo Jo’s show and she had her own superstar act. Her races included decorated nails, stylish outfits, and stunning looks. In the 100-meter final in Seoul, the 5-foot-7, 130-pound Joyner bettered the Olympic record with her 10.54. She blistered the 200-meters finals, and Flo Jo delivered an amazing 21.34 in capturing her second gold medal. Joyner, who died in her sleep in 1998, still holds the women’s 100 and 200-meter world records.

• Edwin Moses: A self-made man.

Getting over hurdles was a skill Edwin Moses learned early in life. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta which had a track team, no track, and no coach for him. He had run just one hurdle race prior to March 1976. As a 20-year-old unknown college student, he went to the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Moses broke the 400-meter hurdle world record running 47.64, winning gold by an eight meter victory in his first international competition.

• Carl Lewis: Outraging fans and sponsors.

By the summer of 1996, Carl’s meteoric career had suffered some set backs. Though he won four gold medals at the 1984 L.A. Olympics, he never won fans over, at least in the United States. This time, the King of Track was in a battle with Mike Powell at Atlanta Olympic stadium.

Carl wanted revenge: Powell had beaten him at the previous world championships and broken the long jump world record. An athletic shade of his former self, Carl Lewis delivered big. At 35, he pulled out some mojo to jump 27 feet, 10 ¾ inches, his longest distance in four years. That night in Atlanta was a reminder that others had run faster and jumped farther, but few had sustained such a high level of performance for so long.

Jay Hicks

Tommie Smith 1968 Suedes

It’s about time that John Carlos and Tommie Smith finally got some love. Puma is paying a small tribute to the two former track stars with “Tommie Smith” Suede Pack.

During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City when newly crowned 200-meter champion and record holder Tommie Smith raised his fist on the podium, along with bronze medal winner John Carlos, the controversy jumped off.

The barefoot athletes’ salute was meant to represent the civil rights movement and the struggle of African Americans. Tommie Smith and John Carlos were kicked out of the Olympic village, suspended from the U.S. Olympic team, and summarily sent home from the games.

To commemorate these brave men, a two sneaker collection of Suedes will release later this month with a repeating fist monogram along the upper and include golden accents. Look for the shoes to be available for purchase in August 2008.

Haile Gebrselassie Not Running in Beijing Marathon

Officials in Beijing are probably seething by news that distance runner Haile Gebrselassie just announced that he will not be competing in the Olympic marathon in Beijing. Haile is perhaps the sport’s biggest name and a fan favorite.

The city’s pollution levels and his exercise induced asthma are the reasons cited by the marathon world record holder’s agent about why he decided not to run the marathon. Rather, he will try to qualify for Ethopia in the 10,000-meters.

The pollution in China is a threat to my health, and it would be difficult for me to run 42 kilometers in my current condition,”Gebrselassie said in an interview.

Britain is reportedly leaning towards giving Olympic athletes pollution masks to deal with the rancid air.

Jay Hicks

Allyson Felix Voted L.A. Sportswoman of the Year!

Allyson Felix is in a class all her own. Felix was recently honored by peers at the 3rd annual L.A. Sports Award for a break-through season in 2007. The award marked a move from being a 200-meter runner to an all-around force that can compete from the 100 to 400.

“Sportswoman of the Year” was awarded to track star Allyson Felix by the Los Angeles Sports Council.

The L.A. native ran circles around opponents in an talent-rich 200-meters at the 2007 World Track and Field Championship in Osaka. There, Felix also helped the U.S. team win gold medals in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

David Beckham was not on hand at the Beverly Hills Hotel to accept the “Sportsman of the Year” award. Felix said, “My only disappointment was not getting to meet David Beckham, who was named Sportsman of the Year.”

By Jay Hicks, a.k.a. Track Evangelist

Records Are Meant to Be Broken: World Indoor Championships, Day 3 Blogging

Yelena Soboleva of Russia celebrates after setting the first world record of the Valencia event.

Team USA ended the third and final day with a strong finish in Valencia, Spain. All told, the United States led all countries in the final medal count with five gold, five silver, and three bronze medals.

The international meet, while absent some of the sport’s biggest names, was marked with quite a few memorable performances. There were break through moments for athletes who had been waiting for validation of their years of work and sacrifice.

Nine women towed the starting line in the 1500-meters and one ended by breaking her own world record: Yelena Soboleva of Russia. This race will be remembered in the halls of track for many years to come.

The first 1,200 meters passed at a brisk pace. Yelena took the lead at the final bell lap winning with nearly a 12-meter lead. When she crossed the line the clock read 3:57:71: a new world record.

Yelena ran away with $40,000 for first place and $50,000 for setting a world record. $90,000 is not bad for less than four minutes of work in her office on the track. Fellow Russian Yuliya Fomenko was second in 3:59.41, while Gelete Burka of Ethiopia grabbed the bronze.

American Bryan Clay dominated the men’s heptathlon from beginning to end during the two-day competition. He registered a personal best total of 6,371 points, just 105 short of Dan O’Brien’s 1993 world record.

Clay said,“I was sick and then I was hurt. Two weeks ago I would have told you that I wouldn’t even be able to compete here. This just shows how well my training is going.”

In the women’s 800-meters, Maria Mutola came up short in her bid for an eighth indoor world title. In what was a disasterous race for her, Mutola gave up the lead to the inside and then got boxed in during the final lap. Tamsyn Lewis of Australia slipped by Mutola to won in 2:02.57. Mutola took home the bronze and closed the chapter on what has been one heck of a career.

Canada’s Tyler Christopher took advantage of a world 400-meter final without Jeremy Wariner, Angelo Taylor, or LaShawn Merritt. Tyler drafted behind Johan Wissman of Sweden for most of the race and then swung out wide down the home stretch to win in 45.67.

The Russian women completely dominated the 400-meters without American superstars such as Sanya Richards and Allyson Felix. Olesya Zykina won by a lean over teammate Natalya Nazarova in 51.09. American Shareese Woods ran her fastest time ever to win bronze in 51.41.

The men’s 800-meters was a brutally fast race. Eighteen-year-old Abubaker Kaki Khamis of Sudan took the lead from the break and held the lead to win in a jaw dropping 1:44.81. Every runner in the final ran a personal best including a world best time and two national records. American Nick Symmonds took sixth but had to leave the meet knowing that he did not wilt under the intense heat on the race. Symmonds ran a personal best 1:46.48.

Afterward Symmonds said, “It was just too fast.”

Tariku Bekele won the 3,000-meters in an inspiring fashion with a searing final 400-meters, to win gold in 7:48.23. The last name may ring a bell. He is the younger brother of Keneisa Bekele, the defending 3,000 meter champion, who skipped the world indoors to focus on the upcoming World Cross Country Championships.

Brad Walker of the U.S. set a personal best of 19 feet, 2.25 inches in the pole vault but it wasn’t good enough to beat Evgeniy Lukyanenko. Walker won silver and goes home with a $20,000 check.

U.S. Indoor champion Aarik Wilson was seventh in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 55 feet, 4.75 inches, and Texan Amy Acuff cleared 6 feet, 4.75 inches for sixth place in the women’s high jump.

Team USA ran away from all other men to win the 4 x 400 meter-relay. The American women took home bronze as the Russians won their eighth straight indoor relay title.

Fans can watch Team USA online via live, daily Webcast at WCSN.com, and on television on the Versus network. Check local listings.

Richards, Wariner, and Greene Spotted in Valencia!

Jonathan Edwards, Maurice Greene, Janeth Jeposgei, IAAF President Lamine Diack, Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, Jonas Wistrom CEO of AF and Susanna Kallur.

Americans Sanya Richards, Jeremy Wariner, and Maurice Greene were in Valencia, Spain to promote the upcoming ÅF Golden League Tour. Europe’s lucrative outdoor track circuit kicks off in three months.

Athletes will compete for a part of the $1 million jackpot. A share of which is on offer to any athlete who can win at all six ÅF Golden League events. The six events in this year’s ÅF Golden League take place in Berlin (June 1), Oslo (6 June), Paris (July 11), Rome (July 18), Zürich (August 29) and Brussels (September 5). Appearance fees up to $100,000 per race are also paid by meet directors to entice top athletes to run in their meets.

I wonder if Maurice Greene, a well-known trash talker, was reminding the younger athletes that Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba’s victory in 6.51 didn’t touch the 60-meter world record of 6.39, that Greene set 10 years ago?

Jay Hicks

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